Humans of HOPE: Inspiring Stories with Kerrie Atherton

About Humans of HOPE: Inspiring Stories with Kerrie Atherton

In times of trauma and adversity, creating space for connection is the only path out of the darkness. And sometimes, we need a little help to triumph over our adversity by sharing a story of hope. On every episode of this podcast, Kerrie Atherton delves into the remarkable journeys of everyday people who have faced extraordinary challenges and emerged to share hope to others. Every week you'll hear a deeply personal experience from someone who has overcome adversity, sharing their struggles and victories and shedding light on the resilience of the human spirit.

Publisher

Kerrie Atherton (StoriesOfHope.com.au)

Category

education · health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Aug 2024

Latest episode

18 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

57 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Oct 2026

   Finding Hope After Losing the Love of His Life: Dave Williams on Grief and Depression

   In this episode of Stories of Hope: Worldwide, I’m joined by the wonderful Dave Williams, a leadership coach, bestselling author and peak performance specialist from the UK, who shares his deeply personal journey through grief, loss and finding his way back to life after losing the love of his life, Helen, in 2015. Dave’s world fell apart when Helen died suddenly, and in the months that followed, he found himself in a place of profound loneliness, depression and despair. As someone who had always been driven and successful, he never imagined he could reach such a dark place. But what I love about Dave’s story is his honesty about just how difficult that journey was, and his courage in sharing what it took to begin again. Together, we talk about the reality of grief, the pressure many men feel to keep their struggles to themselves, and why even those who spend their lives supporting others need someone to lean on. Dave shares how he began to change the story he was telling himself about Helen’s passing, finding a way to honour her through the lives he could touch and the difference he could make in the world. We also explore the importance of allowing ourselves to feel our pain rather than burying it, recognising the coping strategies that may keep us stuck, and taking those first small steps towards a different future. Because healing isn’t always a straight line, and sometimes moving forward means finding the courage to try again when yesterday felt like a step backwards. If you’re navigating grief, facing a significant life change, or simply struggling to find your way through a difficult season, I hope this conversation reminds you that you don’t have to have it all together, and you don’t have to figure everything out today. Sometimes, hope begins with one small decision to keep going. Get in touch with Dave Williams: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davewilliamscoaching/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/davewilliamscoaching/) Website: https://www.davewilliamscoaching.com/ (https://www.davewilliamscoaching.com/) *** Thank you for listening to Stories of HOPE: Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton. Kerrie Atherton is an Inspiring Speaker, Professional Counsellor and Mental Health Coach. To find out more about "Stories of Hope: Worldwide", head to https://storiesofhope.com.au/ (https://storiesofhope.com.au/). Purchase books in the "Stories of Hope" series, written by Kerrie: https://storiesofhope.com.au/product/stories-of-hope-australia-books/ (https://storiesofhope.com.au/product/stories-of-hope-australia-books/). With thanks to: Music: "Pilgrims" by Daniel Pratt (https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/album/pilgrims/6957) (artlist.io (https://artlist.io/referral/ba47afd5-5498-43f2-b81b-7e58836935d6)) Editing & Production: Matthew Bliss (https://www.mbpod.com (https://www.mbpod.com)), Ava Ramshaw (https://www.avaramshaw.com (https://www.avaramshaw.com)) Mentioned in this episode: Kerrie Atherton Offers Counselling Sessions to Support You If the topics discussed in this episode resonate with you and you'd like to talk to someone, Kerrie Atherton is available for counselling sessions. Click the link to book a session with Kerrie today. Book a Session with Kerrie Today (https://storiesofhope.captivate.fm/counselling)

2. 

   4 Oct 2026

   What Alone Taught Jacks Genega About Strength & Self-Love

   In Part Two of my conversation with Jacks Genega, we go deeper into her extraordinary experience competing on Alone and what happened when survival became about so much more than simply enduring the wilderness. Jacks shares what it was really like to be completely alone in the Arctic Circle, battling hunger, illness, freezing conditions and the constant pressure of providing for herself. But some of her greatest challenges weren’t physical. Out there, without the distractions of everyday life, she came face-to-face with her own fears, expectations and that relentless feeling that she still had something to prove. One of the things that really touched my heart was hearing Jacks talk about the decision to leave the experience after seriously injuring her eyes. What could easily have felt like defeat became one of her greatest lessons: that courage doesn’t always mean continuing, and strength isn’t measured by how much suffering we can endure. Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is care for ourselves. Jacks also opens up about what happened after the show aired, including some incredibly harsh judgement online, alongside the beautiful messages from people who connected deeply with her story. Her response is such an important reminder that we cannot live our lives trying to please everyone. Our people will find us. Jacks’ message to the world is beautifully simple: be you. Lean into what makes you feel alive, trust your heart, and remember that even when life deals you a difficult hand, you still have the power to become the wild card. Get in touch with Jacks Genega: Website: https://jacksgenega.com/ (https://jacksgenega.com/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildcard.wilderness (https://www.instagram.com/wildcard.wilderness) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacks.genega (https://www.facebook.com/jacks.genega) *** Thank you for listening to Stories of HOPE: Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton. Kerrie Atherton is an Inspiring Speaker, Professional Counsellor and Mental Health Coach. To find out more about "Stories of Hope: Worldwide", head to https://storiesofhope.com.au/ (https://storiesofhope.com.au/). Purchase books in the "Stories of Hope" series, written by Kerrie: https://storiesofhope.com.au/product/stories-of-hope-australia-books/ (https://storiesofhope.com.au/product/stories-of-hope-australia-books/). With thanks to: Music: "Pilgrims" by Daniel Pratt (https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/album/pilgrims/6957) (artlist.io (https://artlist.io/referral/ba47afd5-5498-43f2-b81b-7e58836935d6)) Editing & Production: Matthew Bliss (https://www.mbpod.com (https://www.mbpod.com)) Mentioned in this episode: Kerrie Atherton Offers Counselling Sessions to Support You If the topics discussed in this episode resonate with you and you'd like to talk to someone, Kerrie Atherton is available for counselling sessions. Click the link to book a session with Kerrie today. Book a Session with Kerrie Today (https://storiesofhope.captivate.fm/counselling)

3. 

   20 Sept 2026

   Reclaiming Your Power After Trauma with Jacks Genega (“Alone” 2026)

   CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains an open discussion of kidnapping, sexual assault and rape, which some listeners may find difficult. In this deeply moving episode of Stories of Hope Worldwide, I sit down with the incredible Jaclyn “Jacks” Genega: survivalist, wilderness educator and recent participant in the World Championship series of Alone. This is Part 1 of our conversation, with Part 2 to come shortly. Jacks’ strength in the wilderness is extraordinary, but the story behind that strength is even more powerful. At just 19 years old, Jacks was kidnapped, brutally assaulted and raped by two men. For years afterwards, she carried the trauma, searching for meaning and trying to build a life that looked full on the outside while struggling to truly feel alive within it. Jacks shares so openly about the long road from feeling wounded to becoming the woman she is today. Rather than allowing fear to dictate the boundaries of her life, she began learning how to understand it. She trained in wilderness survival, navigation and self-reliance, eventually taking herself on solo expeditions around the world and facing some of the very fears that had once held her back. We also talk about her extraordinary experience on “Alone”, where the wilderness taught her something far greater than how long she could endure. It taught her about power, integrity, love and the courage to choose herself. One thing Jacks says really stayed with me: the best way she could find justice was to live a meaningful life. There is so much courage in this conversation, but there is also tenderness. Jacks reminds us that resilience isn't about becoming emotionless or proving how much pain we can withstand. Sometimes our greatest strength comes when we take back the pen, reclaim our own story and decide that fear will no longer be the author. I know so many people will connect with Jacks’ story, and I am incredibly grateful to her for trusting us with it. Get in touch with Jacks Genega: Website: https://jacksgenega.com/ (https://jacksgenega.com/) *** Thank you for listening to Stories of HOPE: Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton. Kerrie Atherton is an Inspiring Speaker, Professional Counsellor and Mental Health Coach. To find out more about "Stories of Hope: Worldwide", head to https://storiesofhope.com.au/ (https://storiesofhope.com.au/). Purchase books in the "Stories of Hope" series, written by Kerrie: https://storiesofhope.com.au/product/stories-of-hope-australia-books/ (https://storiesofhope.com.au/product/stories-of-hope-australia-books/). With thanks to: Music: "Pilgrims" by Daniel Pratt (https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/album/pilgrims/6957) (artlist.io (https://artlist.io/referral/ba47afd5-5498-43f2-b81b-7e58836935d6)) Editing & Production: Matthew Bliss (https://www.mbpod.com (https://www.mbpod.com)) Mentioned in this episode: Kerrie Atherton Offers Counselling Sessions to Support You If the topics discussed in this episode resonate with you and you'd like to talk to someone, Kerrie Atherton is available for counselling sessions. Click the link to book a session with Kerrie today. Book a Session with Kerrie Today (https://storiesofhope.captivate.fm/counselling)

Who has been a guest on Humans of HOPE: Inspiring Stories with Kerrie Atherton

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jo Mason
• Rhys Kirk
• Paul Beardmore

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

7,242

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

40 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 63 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

80

Social presence

0

YouTube

65

Engagement

51

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Guest appearances

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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